Style Diary

It’s one thing dressing to the nines at a red carpet film premiere or an awards ceremony. But a truly stylish man brings it every single day of the week.

Jon-Paul Bolus’s style is much admired by the patrons of Loading Bay, his café and apparel store in Cape Town De Waterkant. His flair for all things sartorial was confirmed when he was named GQ Best-Dressed Man a few years back, and since his style continues to impress, we decided to show you two weeks in the life of his wardrobe.

'Good Morning, good afternoon and hello again from me and my friend to the left,' Says Jon-Paul (press 'next' to meet his stylish companion). 'Another perfect day in Cape Town, having too much fun at my store, Loading Bay. Exciting things to come. Today I'm inspired by 1920s-30s America. I'm wearing a great collarless '20s-inspired shirt from RRL, a vintage denim waistcoat that if found in Brooklyn NYC and a Tanner Goods belt made from raw veg leather. In my waistcoat pocket I have a neck scarf from Beams Japan. The denim is worn-in 14oz selvedge and my watch is a Timex/J-crew. And the shoes? You already know this by now - Our Legacy.'

4/6

'My Friend to the left is wearing a paisley neck scarf around his head, an olive green college sweater by Acne, and underneath, an Our Legacy Japanese linen Polo.

5/6

Wednesday 18 April 'It's a beautiful day in sunny Cape Town, with clear skies with a slight early morning chill in the air Another perfect day for more denim. Right - so layering is my game in autumn as I'm usually out and about from early morning until evening. A light-weight chambray 1920s collarless shirt (vintage), layered with heavier-weight denim shirt/jacket inspired from the 1950s Levis by Acne.
One of my favourite washed pair of jeans - Roc Lana Blue by Acne. Same shoes as yesterday - it must say something. Smelly feet? No, just great shoes that I love to wear by Our Legacy. TODAY IS A GOOD DAY. '

6/6

Tuesday 17 April 'I have a full day ahead of me,' Jon-Paul tells GQ, 'so I have my Our Legacy bag packed with soccer gear for this evening's five-a-side match and my "My Back" backpack to store general goods like my laptop and notepads,' That's just the beginning. 'Today, I'm wearing an Our Legacy checked raw linen shirt. Over my shirt I have another slightly heavier shirt also by Our Legacy: it's 55% Hemp 45% cotton blend, indigo-dyed denim from Japan. My APC Raw Selvedge denims have been worn in for about a year and the Our Legacy shoes are A-grade cow suede. My single speed is in the picture but unfortunately I can't ride into work today as I have too much to carry. Tomorrow is another day... Oh, and my banana is from Woolworths.'

Thursday 12 April: I was at James and Ethel Grey Park this morning for a quick moment of contemplation and asked a mother and daughter (and a Dashund) to take my picture. Cardigan: Zara. This was bought in Europe just before the Zara store opened in Sandton. Happily I haven't seen this on anyone else.
Shirt & Chinos: W Collection. Many of my basics are from here.
Shoes: Tosoni at Spitz. I appreciate lace ups in this style and I have similar styles in black.

2/10

Belt: Summit. I have a number of these in various colours.

3/10

Wednesday 11 April:
I usually brew my own Rwandan and Ethiopian blend in the morning but this morning I had to run out early so I got my fix at Motherland Coffee in Rosebank. I bumped into Joey Khuvutlu, Director at City Mob (check out Biz Hub in the current issue) who was kind enough to take my picture.
Jeans: Levi's, naturally.
Shoes: Creative Recreation. The brand has just started a major marketing push in SA, you'll hear more about them soon.
Belt: Craig Port
Jacket: a staple for a Biker/Rock 'n Roll style. Picked this up at an eclectic spot I am not willing to share, after a shipment from London.
Scarf: I can't remember where this is from.
Sunglasses: Diesel.
County Cap: Sir Henry Rutland. From one of those downtown shops run by three generations of Indian immigrants.
Photograph: Joey Khuvutlu

4/10

Bag: love the retro schoolboy feel, I got this at the Rosebank rooftop market a few years ago.

5/10

Tuesday 10 April:
Trousers: Studio W, tailored. Haven't worn these in a while, encouraged that they still fit.
Shirt: Polo. My last surviving pink shirt. I was an early adopter in the pink shirt Tsunami. These of course haven't been novel for a while, but it doesn't mean you can't dabble every now and then, especially if they have subtle pin stripes like this one.
Jersey: W Collection.
Shoes: Kurt Geiger. I tend to keep shoes for a long time and these are getting better with age.
Belt: W Collection

6/10

Monday 9 April: On such a tranquil and mild Easter Monday, one would be forgiven for forgetting what time of the year it is.
Shorts: Gap
Vest: Woolworths
Shirt: Yves St Laurent, a vintage find.
Shoes: Crocket & Jones brogues.
Bag: Vintage

Thursday 5 April:
Its a a mercifully warm autumn day in Jozi so no layering, a shirt and jeans will do.
Shirt: Land Rover, really.
Shoes: Tisoni at Spitz
Jeans: Levi's
Belt: Tiger of Sweden
Socks: Paul Smith. Photograph: Mpho Nkomonde

9/10

Tuesday 3 April: Blazer: Custom tailored - designed by Craig Jacobs.
Jersey: Pringle of Scotland. A bit of colour to emulate the autumn hues.
Shirt: Country Road and tailored to fit.
Jeans: Levi's, like most of my jeans. They mould to your shape over time. I like the classic cuts, durability and no fuss design.
Shoes: Joop! The photographer got these last week in Berlin, it will be fun breaking them in.
Belt: Woolworths.
Bag: Battered and vintage. I have a matching vintage diary/notebook holder which you'll see at some stage.
Sunglases: Birlin Dublin at YDE. They were an emergency buy and cheap, but I hope they last, because I love the design.

10/10

Monday 2 April: Whatever summer dreams we might have still been clinging onto, the chilly Jozi autumn morning winds have blown away and so the layering has begun. It's a Monday with no meetings and hours behind the keyboard, so it's casual, comfortable day with these pieces thrown together before the morning shower.
White T-shirt - Woolworths. I have one for every day of the week, you can never have too many plain white tees.
Khakhi trousers - Gap. I appropriated these from the missus (they are unisex, she had bought a big size) and had them tailored.
Chunky black knit - Negro. I was styled in this at a shoot a couple of years back and never gave it back. I did pay for it though.
Denim jacket - Urban. Have had it for years, its also tailored.
Sunglasses - Diesel. I recently rediscovered these in my bedside drawer (there's a lot of stuff in there) after losing a pair of wayfarers I have worn pretty much everyday for the past three years went missing.
White canvas kicks - Onitsuka Tiger. I love the comfort reprieve these give my feet. I love takkies but I am not as obsessive as I was when I was a teenager.
Mala beads - House of Ises, Rosebank (with a nod to Liam Lynch for the lead)